The GATE Trust Scores

The GATE Trust Score is a proprietary formula (actually, multiple formulas because there are multiple Trust Scores) that takes into account a person's ranking (both overall ranking and specifically for certain relationships) and rating history, volume, deviation, & frequency, and produces a value that is comparable to other GATE Entities.

The GATE Trust Score is a number between 0 and 100 inclusive and there are two variations of the GATE Trust Score: Relative and Absolute. They are distinct formulas but they are related in the sense that as the distance on the Membership tree between Members approaches infinity, the results of the two methods converge (that is, a perfect stranger will have the same Absolute and Relative Trust Score). The Absolute GATE Trust Score produces the same number for any GATE Entity regardless of which authorized GATE Entity requests it. The Relative GATE Trust Score may and often will produce a different number depending on the relationship between the requester and the Member the score is for; it is relative to the both the distance between Members on the Membership Tree and the distance between rating-related Members.

The idea here is that trust is not binary, it is relative to the individual considering extending their trust… the more one is familiar with those that are providing rankings and ratings, the more likely those rankings and ratings will carry weight in one's mind, thus the Score for one requesting Member may be different than another's even though they both are requesting the Score for the same user.

This maps to real-world experiences, not only are people closer to you are generally more trustworthy in your mind than those friend of a friend of a friend, but people are more likely to fulfill their trust obligations if they know the person they have the obligation with. This is a truth that comes out of many decades of Trust Game experiments, it is the basis of Social Networking, and it is captured within the Relative GATE Trust Score.

CONCLUSION

When it comes right down to the brass tacks, as they say, business is always about relationships and relationships are always about Trust. The GATE Trust Policy, GATE Trust Ranking and GATE Trust Ratings together provide the framework for an overall Community of Trust within the GATE Village. The GATE Trust System that is embedded within the GATE Village infrastructure that monitors and audits activities looking for Breach of Trusts ensures that Community of Trust is maintained and the Conflict of Interest policy that must be adopted and followed by every GATE Employee ensures that GATE Village's integrity is maintained.

GATE Village can't protect it's Members from unscrupulous business activity, however GATE Village can offer a community where Trust can be monitored and enforced to some degree making the likelihood of making agreements with dishonest and/or untrustworthy people or entities much less likely. GATE Village is a place where honest people will be rewarded for that honesty, and dishonest people will likely steer clear of the place as it will be difficult to work without exposing the dishonesty for all to see.

The GATE Village promotes fair trade in a Community of Trust.